Cohort study reveals distinct prenatal and postnatal metal exposure patterns in preterm infants using shed teeth, highlighting environmental shifts during intensive care.
Key Points
To determine the timing and magnitude of a broad array of metal exposures during gestation and subsequent neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization using shed teeth.
Analyzed shed teeth from N=138 preterm infants (median gestational age: 27 weeks, IQR 25–28) using laser ablation techniques.
Used the neonatal line as a chronological landmark to assign prenatal and postnatal developmental age estimates to metal concentrations relative to calcium.
Modeled changes in metal ratios across prenatal and postnatal periods and specific developmental weeks using linear mixed effects models.
Average metal ratios decreased from the prenatal to postnatal period for Pb, Ba, Sn, Zn, Mn, Al, Mg, and Cu, while ratios increased postnatally for Sr, Rb, and Li.
Prenatal ratios were highest and significantly exceeded postnatal levels during weeks 28–30 for Al and Ba; prenatal Zn peaked during weeks 24 and 30, and Mn peaked during weeks 24 and 25.
Cite This Study
Lieberman‐Cribbin et al. (2026) studied this question.